Oops, I forgot to put a disclaimer on that last chapter... ^^;; hehe...
Disclaimer: Unless CLAMP would be willing to sell me the rights to MKR for... *counts her money* $50... I don't, and never will, own Rayearth...
Chapter 12 didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would to finish.... Oh, well. ^_^ Enjoy, everyone!
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"If you traitorous Demon Slayers won't kill the Prince of Demons, I will!"
"Akudoi... you...?" Hikaru stuttered.
Akudoi grinned maliciously. "Did you actually think that I wanted to befriend you? I was sent by the people to eliminate the Prince of Demons."
Fuu stood, obviously disturbed by the recent turn of events. Her green eyes locked with the pleading golden ones of Ferio. His eyes begged her to help him, and she cried out to him and ran forward.
"Don't you dare!" Akudoi hissed. He pushed the dagger closer to Ferio's neck, and a drop of blood ran down the blade. "One more step, and I'll slit his throat!"
Fuu stopped in her tracks and staggered backwards. Clef took a few steps forward and stood in a battle stance, aiming his staff at Akudoi.
"Release him!" Clef yelled while threateningly holding out his staff.
Akudoi laughed and shook his head. "You can't fool me, mage. I know your magic is of no use."
Clef clenched his teeth tightly and cursed under his breath. Fuu glanced towards Umi, and Umi stared back at her. They seemed to establish a plan, and Umi nodded discreetly.
"I guess the tables have turned, Prince!" Akudoi hissed as he grabbed Ferio's hair and yanked his head backwards. Ferio winced as Akudoi pulled numerous hairs from his scalp. "It looks like I'm not the one who is going to die in this castle!"
"You tricked us!" Umi snarled. "Bastard!!" Umi took a few hurried steps towards Akudoi, and Fuu ran into her, knocking her into the wall right behind Akudoi.
"No!" Fuu screamed. "Stop!"
Everyone stared at Fuu, obviously confused. Lantis took a few steps forward, but Hikaru gently stopped him. Tears glistened in Fuu's eyes, and Umi began to edge towards the area directly behind Akudoi. Akudoi laughed coldly and edged the dagger closer to Ferio's throat.
"It looks like this is the end, dear Prince," he laughed while the people around him stood petrified. "Say good-bye!"
"Good-bye!!" Umi screamed from behind him. She jumped up and jammed her elbow against the back of Akudoi's head, and he staggered forward. He pulled Ferio downward by his hair, and Ferio darted away from his grip, leaving many strands of forest green hair in Akudoi's fist. Ferio ran to Fuu, who hugged him tightly. Akudoi swung around towards Umi, who had no where to go. A vein pulsed in Akudoi's temple, his face was beginning to color with rage.
"You bitch!" he yelled.
As Akudoi raised his dagger, all the color in Clef's face drained. Time seemed to stop, he didn't know what to do. Clef raised his staff out of instinct, and as he heard Umi scream, he willed all the power inside of him to be released. Energy gathered at his staff, and sparks danced across the wooden surface. A lightning bolt shot at Akudoi's hand, and he yelped loudly. He clutched his hand and the dagger flew from his grip. Clef dropped his staff from exhaustion. His azure eyes were still wide, and he collapsed to his knees, then fell to the floor, unconscious. Umi screamed and ran towards him, and she held him in her arms. She sobbed as she shook him, and suddenly, she noticed his claws had returned. She moved his hair away from his ears and saw they were, once again, pointed, and a tail was emerging from under his robes. Umi gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, shocked, then turned her attention towards Akudoi.
The dagger had fallen at Lantis's feet, and he picked it up, pointing it a Akudoi.
"It's over," Lantis said icily. Akudoi trembled, now fearing demons more than ever. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ferio walk over to Umi and lift Clef from her arms. He lifted Clef onto his back, and stood.
"You should probably leave now," Lantis addressed his comrades. "I'll finish the job."
Umi nodded and followed Ferio, Hikaru, and Fuu out of the room. Once the door was closed, she heard Akudoi cry out, then there was silence. Umi grimaced, and Lantis emerged from the room. He turned his head downwards, and Hikaru touched his arm comfortingly. He smiled slightly, and they turned, carrying Clef to an empty room to rest.
~*~*~*~*~
Ferio rubbed his neck, tracing the narrow gash on his throat where the dagger had cut him. Fuu leaned against him, burying her face into his shirt. He touched her arm gently before kissing the top of her head, and Fuu laid her hand on top of his.
"I don't think I've ever been so frightened," she whispered.
"I know..." he whispered back. Fuu lifted her head and rested it on his shoulder. Ferio kissed her forehead and they looked over to where Umi sat by Clef's bedside. Her hands were folded, as if in prayer, and she held them close to her face. Tears were in her eyes and she stared, transfixed, at Clef's peaceful face.
Hikaru, too, was watching Umi intently. She bit her lip worriedly and placed a hand on Umi's shoulder.
"Umi-chan..." Hikaru said softly. "It's alright, relax. Clef's going to be fine."
Umi shook her head. "I'm not going to relax. I can't... not after what happened to Ascot. I won't leave his side."
Hikaru sighed and shook her head sadly before returning to Lantis. She leaned against
him and he wrapped his arm around her.
"He is going to be alright, isn't he?" Hikaru asked.
"Of course," Lantis replied. "He's merely unconscious. The only thing that made him collapse was fatigue."
"Fatigue?"
"It obviously took a lot of his energy to use that spell," Lantis said. "It seems his magic has returned to him."
"How?" Hikaru asked. "The curse—!"
"The curse covered up our magic, I believe," said Lantis. "Maybe Clef's will to protect Umi brought his powers back to him. Therefore, his demon traits returned." Lantis cocked a small smile. "Maybe my magic shall return as well."
Hikaru smiled. "I hope so."
~*~*~*~*~
Umi brushed a strand of hair away from Clef's face gently. Her lip trembled and she bit down on it hard. She knew in her heart that he was fine, but her brain told her never to leave him. She briefly glanced out the window—the sun was in the midst of rising over the mountains. Umi withdrew, then let out, and deep breath and placed her hand on top of Clef's, wrapping her fingers around his. Suddenly, Clef's fingers closed around hers, gripping her hand lightly. Umi gasped slightly, then a small smile spread across her face.
Suddenly, Clef groaned softly and his eyes flickered open. Umi sat upright and she beamed down at him, tears still glistening in her eyes.
"Ungh..." Clef groaned as he sat up, a hand to his forehead. "What happened?"
Umi smiled and lifted his hand to her cheek. She held his hand to her face and cradled it gently. "You saved me, Clef. Akudoi... it was all a set up. He was sent to trick us."
Clef's azure eyes widened slightly. "Akudoi...?" By now, everyone was staring at him.
"Where is..."
"He's dead," said Lantis. Clef turned and looked at him before turning his attention to his hand at Umi's cheek. Azure eyes, once again, grew wide. He stared at his free hand, then put his hand to his ear, then, while only dropping his jaw slightly, he put a finger lightly to his canine teeth.
"Impossible..." he murmured.
"Your magic saved me," Umi said. Clef stared at her and lifted himself from the bed.
He grabbed his staff and waved his hand slightly, and a trail of purple and blue sparks followed the movement of his hand. He grinned.
"So it's true..." he whispered.
Umi dove into his arms, crying happily. Clef looked taken aback as her weight was suddenly thrown against him, but his expression relaxed as she held him tightly, and
he returned her firm embrace. He rested his hand on the back of the hand and whispered to her softly in an attempt to calm her. Hikaru and Fuu smiled at the couple and they exchanged glances.
Suddenly, Clef's head rose suddenly and he addressed Ferio sharply.
"Are the soldiers ready?" he asked. Umi lifted her head and stared up at Clef's stern face.
Ferio nodded. "Presea and Eagle have informed me that they are well prepared."
Clef let out a relieved sigh and looked over his shoulder, at the window. The rising sun cast brilliant colors across the sky.
"We have roughly 12 hours until nightfall," he said. "Then..." his voice trailed off.
"The Final Battle," Lantis said grimly, finishing the mage's sentence.
Clef turned towards Lantis and nodded. "We all need to be prepared for tonight. I think we should all make sure our armor and weapons are in top condition."
They all nodded.
"Let's go," Ferio said suddenly. "Everyone, go get your weapons and armor ready. Train a little if possible. We need to make sure a tragedy like Ascot's does not happen again."
Umi's head turned downward, and Clef placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him and smiled.
"Let's go," Hikaru said confidently.
"Right!" Everyone chorused, then they all headed their separate directions.
~*~*~*~*~
Hikaru dropped to her knees, panting hard. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, and fingered the jewels on her new armor. She, Umi, and Fuu had all received new armor. Hers was a brilliant ruby red, with blood red jewels decorating the breastplate. Gold lined the edges, and the light bounced from the jewels, making them sparkle magnificently.
Hikaru grasped her sword and stood, returning to her training. She stood in a stance for a moment before letting out a battle cry and moving through a series of complicated footwork. She slashed her sword at an invisible opponent, then paused when she passed the window. The sky was growing dark, and the moon was rising in the sky, glowing a bright crimson. Hikaru bit her lip and glanced at her sword, sighing.
Suddenly, she heard shouts coming from down the hall. She walked to the door and swung it open. She could hear Presea shouting calls of, "Get your weapons!", or "They're here! Everyone to the main gates!"
Hikaru gasped and raced from the room, sword in hand. The ran up to the second floor, and burst into the room in which Lantis, Clef, Umi, Fuu, and Ferio, were. Clef, Umi, and Lantis stood by one window, Fuu and Ferio by the other.
"Lantis!" Hikaru cried as she raced towards him. He didn't respond, only kept his attention firmly on the window, or rather, what was outside the window.
"Lantis!" Hikaru cried again as she came up to the window. "The—" Hikaru gasped as she saw what was outside the windows. Hundreds of human soldiers crowded outside, equipped with torches, spears, and swords. They hollered angrily at the castle, shouting nasty curses and atrocious comments.
"Let's go," a voice said from the doorway. Hikaru spun around to see Eagle by the door, looking far more serious than usual. Lantis, Clef, and Ferio nodded firmly and followed Eagle from the door. Hikaru stuck by Umi and Fuu as they ran into the cursed
war.
As they ran through the castle gates after the other soldiers, Hikaru whispered a silent prayer:
"Please," she whispered. "Don't let them die."
~*~*~*~*~
OK, how about some review responses, eh?
inu87yasha: ^______^ I'm glad you like the drawing I sent you!!
Virginia Choir: Hehe... I actually knew it was a cliffy this time! LOL ^^;;
shazzam: He got his rear kicked all right! ^_^
hyper*italian*gurl: Hehehe... Hope you liked Chapter 12!
Momentum: I updated! LOL Hope you liked it!
Sab - Clef Lover: -^_______^- Thanks so much! What a complement!! *^.^*
OK, well... I've decided there'll be about two more chapters to this fic... then that's the end. I don't know how long Chapter 13 will take me... so be patient, people! ^^ I think that's all I have to say... I know I have to be forgetting something... Oh, well. ^_^ OK, keep your eyes open for Ch. 13!! PLEASE REVIEW!!!